HANUMAN, SITA AND RAM





While waiting to interview Tim Miller on Sunday, I heard the dulcet tones of the Hanuman Chalisa wafting from the studio where he was teaching. Apparently that's how he ends his improv class.

The famous devotional hymn has been in my head ever since. I found a few versions while trolling online. My favorite so far is the one above. It's by the great Karnatic singer Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi. Unfortunately it's in Hindi, not Sanskrit (click here for Sanskrit lyrics and translation).

It is believed that the person who chants the Hanuman Chalisa 100 times for 100 days will become free from the cycle of birth and death and enjoys the highest bliss, as stated in verse 38.




I also found Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram (aka Ram Dhun) - another favorite. It's about Sita and Ram, whom Hanuman served in The Ramayana*, and celebrates the unity of all religions. It was favorite of Mahatma Gandhi:




Lord Rama, Chief of the house of Raghu,
Uplifters of those who have fallen, (O divine couple) Sita and Rama,
Beloved, praise Sita and Rama,
God or Allah is your name, [meaning that the supreme can be called by many names]
Lord, bless everyone with this wisdom.





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*One of my favorite things about the Ramayana is the fact that the palace has an anger room, where occupants go to let off steam. Every house, apartment, condo, tenement, shelter and squat should be outfitted with an anger room!